Electrical annunciator.



- Patented July 9, |9o|. c. .1. KINTNEB. ELECTRICAL ANNUNGIATOB.

(Application filed Apr. 2 1898. (No Model.)

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UNrTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. KINTNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL ANNU NCIATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,1 1 6, dated July 9, 1901. Application filed April 2, 1898. Serial No. 676,162. (No model.)

To all whom it Wwty concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES .T. KINTNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have made a new and useful Invention in Electrical Annunciators, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are, first, to so simplify and arrange the parts of an annunciator that a series of annunciator-drops may be controlled by a single movable electromagnet adapted to be operatively connected with each individual room-circuit in turn; secon'd,to combine such an annunciator with a mechanically-actuated bell or alarm which will be kept sounding during the time that the drop-controlling mechanism is moving, and, third, to provide means for restoring the drops when exposed and also for enabling one to keep the propelling mechanism wound up by such restoring mechanism.

My invention will be fully understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a series of outlying room-circuits with push-buttons included therein, a controlling electric battery, together with my novel annunciator illustrated in plan view, apart of the casing being broken away to better illustrate the interior structure, an electric motor being also shown .for furnishingthe motive Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through the body of Fig. 1, illustrating the operative parts of the drop-controlling mechanism and one of the drops in its exposed position in side elevational view, together with the circuit con-. Fig. 3

nections for the controlling-magnet. is a view entirely similar to Fig. 1 of amodi fied form of the apparatus controlled by a spring or weight impelled motor, the drop-re storing apparatus being shown in elevational view attached to the annunciator by a cord and supported at the lower right-hand side thereof by a hook. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through Fig. 3 on the 1ine4t, bearing the same relation to that figure that Fig. 2 does to Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the annunciatOr-drOps and its inte- Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3,

illustratinga still further modified form of the invention as disclosed in said figure and also restoring and rewinding means for the drops and propelling mechanism. Fig. 7 is number of these devices and necessarilymaking such apparatus very costly, as well as cumbersome, by reason of the space required for such a large number of magnets and their adjacent parts, each annunciator-dropbeing provided with an armature and a retractile spring or weighted lever as a rule'for controlling the individual movements thereof. It has also been proposed heretofore to control a series of annunciator-drops provided with armatures by the influence of an electromagnet carried by a movable arm, said electromagnet being energized by electrical currents from outlying stations, and circuitclosers at said stations designed to be held closed for such time during the rotation of the arm as will insure the actuation of the particular drop which said circuit-closer controls.

ried by an armor equivalent means driven by a motor in such manner that as the magnet advances in its circuit or range of movement it will be successively carried under the annunciator-drops and cause them to be exposed when their particular circuits have been instantaneously or momentarily closed at the outlying stations or rooms, after which they are released or restored individually by releasing or restoring means which causes or allows them to be restored to their normal conditions.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in all of which like characters of reference represent like parts wherever used, and first to Figs. 1 and 2, B A represent the controlling-battery, having one pole thereof connected to earth at G and the other by a conductor W to the field and armature coils of-an electric motor E M, which in turn is connected by a conductor \V' to the metallic casing R of the annunciator itself. to w 20 to w", inclusive, represent conductors running to outlying rooms or stations, in which are located push-buttons p'p p top inclusive, normally disconnected from conductors to 10 10 to 10 inclusive, running to earth or a common return-circuit. The conductors 1 0 4.0 20 to w", inclusive, are insulated, from the metallic casing R of the annunciator itself and are connected to pivoted arms 3 S S S to S located within the body of the instrument and in the path of a spring conducting-arm .9, carried at the outer end of an arm C, secured to the armature-shaft T. The pivoted arms S to S inclusive, are provided each with a conducting contact-spring 2 (see Fig. 2) and are normally held in their lower or contacting positions with the conducting-body R of the instrument-casing by flat springs z, secured to the inner surface of the dial or face D, the arrangement being such that when the spring 3 rides under the free inner ends of the arms S to S inclusive, they will be lifted, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. w is a conductor running from the insulated fixed end of the conducting-spring s to and through an electromagnet M, carried near the outer end of the arm 0, the inner end of said conductor 10 being connected to a conducting-ring N, carried bybut insulated from one end of the armature-shaft T, (see Fig. 2,) B being a contact-brush therefor, connected in turn to a continuation of the conductor 10, which joins conductor W. The electromagnet M is secured, as shown in Fig. 2, on the under side of the rotary arm 0 and is provided with an armature it, carried by an angular armature-lever 0, extending upward through an opening in the arm 0 and pivotally supported beneath the body of the magnet M, 0 being a tailpiece for limiting the downward movement of said armaturelever. D represents the dial or face of the annunciator, shown as made of insulating material and provided with a series of radially-disposed annunciator-openings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. D, D D D D D and D are annunciator-drops, constructed, preferably, of thin steel or hard iron, formed each of a single piece, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, so that there is a yielding retractile spring 61' at one edge and a catch or detent if on one lateral face, with a corresponding catch or detent u on the opposite face. (See Fig. 2.) These drops D to D inclusive, are pivotally supported on the inside of the dial or face D, between front and back stops e e, in such manner that when in position they will be normally held out of visual range with the radially-disposed openings 1 2 3 4E 5 (5 7 in the dial or face D by their corresponding retractile springs cl (1 01 d to 61, inclusive, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. These drops are so bent or formed that when pivotally secured in place the tendency of their free or outer ends is impress the detent '6 against the inner sideof the dial or face D, so that when they are carried or turned before their respective openings 1 2 3 at 5 6 7 and released this spring -pressure will cause them to assume the position shown in Fig. 2, with the detent t in position to lock the drop in front of its particular opening,the retractile springs (1 d (1 &c.,being then under strain ready to restore them to normal positions when released. In the form of instrument shown in Fig. 2 the drops are each provided with alug or detentu, located on the opposite side from the detent 25, its function being to constitute a surface bearing for the upper end of the armature-lever 0 when brought into the path thereof. The operation of this form of the apparatus is as follows: Supposing any one of the roomers or attendants at an outlying station to close the circuit at his push-buttonfor instance, p a circuit is immediately established from the battery 13 A through the earth G to the conductor 10 through pushbutton 19 conductor 20 arm .9 through its corresponding spring .2 (see Fig. 2) to the metallic casing R of the instrument, thence by conductor W (see Fig. 1) through the field and armature circuits of the motor E M and conductor W, back to the negative pole of the battery. This causes the armature to rotate and carry with it the arm 0 from left to right, and hence the magnet M, located near the outer end thereof. As the spring 5 at the outer end of said arm passes under the arm 8 the magnet M is unaffected, there being no circuit closed at the push-button p \Vhen, however, the arm 0 advances until the spring 8 passes under the arm S the circuit is broken between the spring a and the metallic casing R of the instrument, but at the same time a new circuit is established through the arm S the spring .9, (see Fig. 2,) conductor w, electromagnet M, conductor 10, contact-ring N, contact-brush B, conductor w, electric motor E M, and conductor V to the battery, thereby causing the arm 0 to still advance in its movement, but at the same time magnetizing the pole m of the eleotromagnet M, so that the armature n and consequently its armature-lever o are moved upward, the free end of the latter into the path of the detent u on the inner side of the pivoted drop D Therefore as the arm 0 advances the free end of the armature-lever 0 causes the drop D to be swung or carried forward against the reverse action of the retractile spring (1 and this forward movement continues as long as the spring 8 is passing under the free end of the pivoted arm S ,,tl1e same being for a sufficient time to carry the drop D in front of the opening 3 and to such a point that the detent i will be carried past the rear edge of said opening, so that it will drop into the position shown in Fig. 2 by virtue of the out-- Ward spring movement of the drop itself. At the same instant of time the free end of the contact-spring s rides from under the arm and breaks the circuit, thus demagnetizing the magnet M and releasing'the armaturelever 0, while the circuit is again established through the motor by way of the spring a, owing to the downward action of the spring 2 upon the free end of the lever S Consequently the arm 0 passes onward in its journey as long as the push-button 10 is held closed. Should the push button be held closed and the arm 0 thus caused to make one or more complete revolutions after the drop has been thus exposed,-no effect thereon will result, as the free end of the armature-lever 0 will always pass the detent a when the drop is in the exposed position whether the'armature be magnetized or not, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Should apush-button in the meantime be closed in any other room or at any other point, the motor will be correspondingly actuated by the current due to such closure, and the corresponding drop willin like manner be exposed. With this form of the apparatus the attention of the clerk or attendant would be called each time by the operation of the mechanism itself, as it is obvious that the action of the armature and the spring nature of the drops would give sufficient sound to call attention to the fact that some person was calling. When it is desired to release any one of the drops in this form of the apparatus, it would only be necessary for the clerk or attendant to insert his finger or any pointed implement in the opening where the drop was exposed, and thus cause it to be pushed inward a sufficient distance to release the detent If, so that under the action of the retractile spring 61, d or (1 850., the corresponding drop would be restored to its normal position. (Shown in the several instances in dotted lines.)--

I will now describe the modified form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in which the general arrangement of the circuit connections is not in the main dissimilar from that already described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. In this type of apparatus, however, the rotary arm 0 and its supporting-shaft T are driven,

by a constant source of power, as a clock mechanism actuated by a spring or a weight. (Not shown.) At one end of this shaft T is arranged a series of pins h it, carried by a.

disk, their free ends being in the path of the inner end of a pivoted spring-pressed bellclapper 0, adapted to actuate an alarm-bell L, secured within the casing, the arrangement being such that as the arm 0 rotates from leftto right the pins h 71. will be successivelyheld with its inner end in the path of said pin by a coiled spring V, 'n being an armature at the other end thereof located in the lateral path of the pole m of the electromagnet M, supported in this instance above the arm 0 and near the outer end thereof. .The several contact-springs S S to S inclusive, in this form of the apparatus areelectrically connected directly to the metallic casing R of the instrument by contacts 2', and the free or inner ends of the pivoted drops D to D inclusive, of magnetic material. are located in the path of the upper face of the magnetpole m, so that as the latter passes under them they will be successively magnetized and attracted thereto if the magnet M be energized. The operation of this form of the apparatus is as follows: Supposing, as before, some one closes the push-button 19 a circuit is immediately established from the battery B A through the conductor W, contact-brush B, conducting contact-ring N, conductor w, electromagnet M, insulated conductin g-sprin g s, stationary starting contactspring S, metallic casing R of the instrument, contact a, spring S through the conductor U113, push-button p and conductor 10 to earth back to the other pole of the battery. This energizes the electromagnet M and causes the armature n to be drawn forward and with it the sliding locking-bar or releasing device Q, thereby releasing the stop-pin U and allowing the clock mechanism to rotate the shaft T, and hence the arm 0, from left to right, carrying with it the electromagnet M, the same being shown in released position in Fig. 4. As the arm advances the contact-spring 8 passes successively under the free ends of the contact-springs S S S until S is reached, when a circuit is immediately established through the electromagnet M, as before, thus causing the tract said drop and carry it forward with it against the action of its retractile spring 01 until the free end of the spring .9 rides from under the free end of the spring S at which time, however, the drop will be in such position that its detent t will be over the opening 3 and to such a distance to the left of the right-hand edge thereof that when the circuit is broken its downward spring tendency will cause it to assume the position shown by the corresponding drop D in the modified form of Fig. 2. As thearm O advances, therefore, the drop will be left in its exposed position, and finally said arm will, after having made one complete revolution, be checked by the stop-pin U and sliding locking-bar or releasing device Q in the position shown in Fig. vat, provided no push-button be closed at that time. It will be apparent that should any other push-button be closed during the movement of the arm its corresponding annunciator-drop would be actuated. Should it be closed, however, after the arm has passed its corresponding drop, the releasing mechanism will be actuated as before and the drop exposed in the same manner, it being obvious that the arm should make at least one revolution during the time that a push-button is held closed, and in order to effect this I prefer that the arm should make at least one revolution in about two seconds or within the time ordinarily utilized by a person in holding a push-button closed.

In Fig. 3 of the'drawings I have shown a device for releasing the annunciator-drops, consisting of a push-pin K, having an eye 2' for hanging it upon a hook II, secured to the casing, said push-pin being provided with a flexible cord j of suflicient length to enable it to be carried to any part of the instrumentface, the cord in turn being permanently secured to the body of the instrument at I. An annunciator-drop is restored to its normal position with this device by simplyinserting its free or narrow end in the drop-opening, thus causing the drop to be forced inward until the detent is released and the retractile spring allowed to restore the drop to the normal or concealed position. (Shown in dotted lines.)

I will now describe the modified form shown in Figs. 6, 7, and S, which discloses, in effect, simply a mere reversal of parts in the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 3 of the drawingsthat is to say, the annunciator-drops in the modified form (shown in Figs. (3 and 7) are normally held out of view from behind their corresponding openings in the dial or face by detents or stops, and their retractile springs are compressed, so that when they (the drops) are released they will be caused to appear before their openings under the influ ence of said springs. In this form of the apparatus, therefore, the rotary arm 0 is held in its stationary position, with the contactspring 5 under the stationary starting contactspring S, by the sliding locking-bar or releasing device Q, which in this instance is pivotally supported upon a standard I), secured to the base and held in its upper or locked position by a spring V, the armature n being actuated by the lower pole of the magnet M. In the view shown in Fig. 7 the arm 0 has just been released and the contact-spring s has passed from under the stationary starting contact-spring S and is for the moment passing under the contact-spring S connected with the conductor 10", running to pushbutton 19 The armature-drops D, D D D,.D D and D (the latter not shown) are all, except D shown as being held out of their exposed positions by detents or stops r r, &c., located on one side of the annunciator-drop openings 1 2 3 4 5 6, &c., as clearly shown in Fig. 8, and when so held their corresponding retractile springs d (1 &c., are under compression, so that when released they will be snapped forward into their exposed positions, as shown in connection with the drop D as will be more particularly described in connection with the description of the mode of operation of this form of the apparatus. 0 represents a drum for the impelled mechanism, around which is wound a cord q, to the lower end of which is attached a propelling-weight J, the arrangement being such that when the cord is wound up the tendency will be for the weight to rotate the shaft T, and hence all of the parts, including the arm G, from left to right. The shaft T is geared through a train of gearing to a regulating-fan F, inelosed in a casing 11, the function of this mechanism being to prevent the arm from traveling beyond a definite speed. I is a ratchet-Wheel secured to the shaft T, and A is a disk-like restoring device journaled upon the same shaft and provided at its outer circumference with a series of upturned fingers K K K, the same constituting restoring devices for the annunciatordrops and located behind said drops, so that when they are in their exposed positions one edge thereof will rest upon its corresponding restoring'finger, as shown in connection with the drop D A is an arm constituting a part of the restoring device A and extending to a point without the metallic casing R, and to its free end is secured a cord E for actuating the restoring device. Said arm is limited in its movements by two stops, as shown, Z

being a retractile spring for holding it in its upper position. fis a pawl pivoted to the restoring device A and having two arms, one of which is adapted to come into operative contact with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel Z, while the other is adapted to pass under a pin g, secured to the inner surface of. the dial or face D and extending through a curved slot K in the restoring device A, the function of said pin being to hold the pawlfout of contact with the ratchet-wheel until the restoring and rewinding device is operated. The operation of this form of the apparatus is as follows: The arm 0 is normally held in locked position by the locking-bar or releasing device Q, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, so that the contact'spring s rests under and against the stationary starting contactspring S. Suppose now the push-button p to be held closed for a definite time. Consequently a circuit is closed from the battery B A by the wire 'VV, through the contact-brush, contact-ring to conductor to, electromagnet M, contact-spring s, stationary starting eontact-spring S, metallic casing R of the instrument, conductor 20 push-buttongfi, conductor 20 to earth, back to the battery. This causes the armature-lever 71 (see Fig. 7) to be drawn upward, so that the free end of the locking-bar or releasing device Q, is drawn downward out of the path of the arm 0, and it starts on its journey, as shown in Fig. 7, the locking-bar or releasing device Q being immediately restored to its normal position after the springs passes from under the spring S. No e'lfect will be had upon the annunciator-drop D because the push-button 19 1s not closed. The same is true for annunciator-drops D and ;D Consequently as the spring 8 passes under the spring 8 s annunciator-drops D and D are not released. When, however, the spring .9 reaches the stationary spring S the circuit is immediately closed through that spring, through the spring s, and the magnet M, as before, thereby energizing the magnet and causing itto magnetize the free end of the magnetizable drop D thus drawing it outward away from its detent or stop 7 a sufficient distance to release it therefrom, so that the retractile spring (1 immediately forces it forward into exposed position. At the same time the contactspring 8 passes from under the stationary spring S and the annunciator-drop is left exposed, disclosing, as shown, a white surface, the remaining openings appearing in the nature of black surfaces. When the arm 0 rotates to its normal position, it is again locked or checked by the locking-bar or releasing device Q in the same manner as disclosed in connection with Fig. 3. The clerk or attendant now restores the drop D and any other drop which may have been released in the meantime by simply taking hold of the cord E and pulling downward upon the arm A, thus causing the restoring device A,

through the agency of its outwardly-extending fingers K K K, to rotate such drops as have been released into their normal or locked position, their outward spring tendencybeing such that the instant they ride over the inclined surfaces of the stops r (see Fig. 8) they will snap into their locked positions. By the act of pulling the arm A downward,and hence causing the restoring device A to rotate, the tailpiece of the pawl f is caused to ride from under the stationary pin 9, so that its lower or weighted end is allowed to fall into the next succeeding tooth of the ratchet-wheel 1, thereby causing (as the arm A is drawn downward) said ratchet-Wheel to rotate, and consequently restoring the weightJ to its upper position. It is obvious, of course, that owing to the limited movement of the arm A one such operation would not restore the weight to its normal position; but should the Weight appear at any time to be too far advanced in its downward journey the clerk or attendant could by a succession of such movements of the arm A cause it to be restored to any desired point, the arm A and restoring device A being always returned to normal position by reason of the retractile force of the spring Z.

I believe it is broadly new with me to control a series of annunciator-drops bya single.

movable electromagnet having circuit connections with outlying stations and circuitclosing devices therein all so arranged as to adapt it to actuate any one of said drops as it passes the same for an instantaneous or momentary closure of the circuit, and I do not limit myself to the particular means of carrying said magnet, as shown in the accompanying drawings, my claims being generic as to this feature without relation to any special means of efiecting the result sought. I prefer to carry such a controlling-magnet at the end of an arm carried by a rotary shaft, as herein shown and described, although the same movement might be effected by other than rotary means, and I desire it understood that my claims should include all such means.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An electrical annunciator provided with a series of an nunciator-drops, in combination with a movable electromagnet having circuit connections so arranged as to adapt it to actuate any one of said drops; conductors running to outlying circuit-closing devices adapted each to close the circuit through the said electromagnet in such manner as to actuate the proper drop, substantially as described.

2. An electrical annunciator provided with a series of annunciator-drops and a movable electromagnet having means for movingit into close proximity to said drops in sequence, together with circuit-closing devices and a series of outlying conductors, including pushbuttons or similar circuit closing devices, adapted to close the circuit through said electromagnet, in such manner as to actuate the proper drop, substantially as described.

3. An electrical annunciator provided with a series of annunciator-drops held normally out of view, a single electromagnet, an arm adapted to carry said electromagnet, propelling mechanism adapted to cause said arm to pass into close proximity to said drops in sequence and bring them into view; a movable circuit-closing spring or device carried by said arm and operatively connected with said -electromagnet, in combination with a series of outlying conductors and push-buttons at outlying stations, said outlying conductors being electrically connected to electrical contacts located in the path of the movable circuit-closing device, whereby said annunciator drops are actuated or brought into View by the electromagnet on closing the circuits at the outlying stations, substantially as described.

4. In an electrical annunciator a series of annunciator-drops held normally out of view, in combination with a series of electrical conductors running from the annunciator to outlying stations with cireuitclosing devices located at said stations; an electromagnet carried by an arm driven by propelling mechanism and adapted to move in close proximity to said ann unciator-drops, said arm being provided with a movable circuit-closing device electrically connected with the electromagnet and an electrical generator and adapted to contact successively with electrical contacts located in its path, which contacts are connected in turn with the outlying conductors, all of said parts acting substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. An electrical annunciatorprovided with a series of annunciator-drops, a single electromagnet carried by an arm and adapted to actuate any one of said drops, said arm being driven by propelling mechanism and said electromagnet being electrically connected with a battery or electrical generator and a movable circuit-closing device, in combination with a series of electrical contacts located in the path of said movable circuit-closing device; a series of outlying conductors electrically connected with said contacts-pushbuttons or circuit-closing devices included in said outlying conductorstogether with an alarm mechanism operatively connected with the mechanism which drives the arm, substantially as described.

6. An electrical annunciator provided with a series of annunciator-drops, a single electromagnet adapted to control the movements of said drops; a spring or weight impelled motive device for moving said electromagnet into close proximity to said drops, in combination with restoring mechanism for restoring said drops to their normal positions and simultaneously rewinding the motive device.

7. In an electrical annunciator a series of annunciator-drops held normally out of view; a rotary arm carrying an electromagnet in combination with means for rotating the same; a series of circuits running to independent rooms and circuit-closing devices in the rooms, the annunciator-drops being provided with means for holding them in their exposed positions after the arm has passed and until released; the electromagnet having circuit connections for causing the drops to be placed in their exposed positions, the arrangement being such that when the arm is once released by the closure of any room-circuit it makes one or more complete rotations without being stopped, substantially as described.

8. In an electrical annunciator a series of annunciator-drops radially arranged; a rotary arm operatively connected with driving mechanism and normally held from rotation by a stop; in combination with an electromagnet carried by the arm and provided with circuit connections and means for releasing it; together with a series of outlying circuits running to individual rooms and circuit-closing devices located therein; the arrangement being such that on closing any circuit-closing device the arm will be released and started on its journey and the drop corresponding to that circuit exposed to View until released, while the arm will eompleteits rotation and be again checked by the stop, substantially as described.

9. In an electrical annunciator a series of annunciator-drops normally held out of view; a rotary arm operatively connected with driving mechanism; an electromagnet carried by said arm; a series of outlying circuits running to individual rooms and including circuitclosing devices, as push-buttons, the electromagnet being provided with circuit connections and means for holding the arm in check until released, the arrangement being such that any number of annunciatordrops may be exposed on a single rotation of the arm, dependent upon the number of pushbuttons actuated during the time of such rotation and leave them exposed until re leased, substantially as described.

10. In an electrical annunciator a series of annunciator-drops normally held out of View; a series of outlying circuits running to individual rooms and including circuit-closing devices, as push-buttons; a rotary arm oper atively connected with driving mechanism and carrying a controlling-electromagnet provided with circuit connections and means for holding it normally in check, the arrangement being such that on closing the circuit }in any room the arm will be released and started on its journey and the corresponding drop moved into position and left exposed to View after the arm has passed; together with an alarm actuated during the time that the arm is moving, all of said parts acting substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this lst day of April, 1898.

CHARLES J. KINTNER. Witnesses:

JAMES P. J. llIORRIS, M. F. KEATING. 

